Tamron 300mm f2.8 MF...

[Seymore]

Found an older MF prime 300mm f2.8 Tamron lens with a Nikon Adaptall mount sitting at a pawn shop. I took a few shots with it and looks to have clean glass. I did look closely at the glass for any hazing, fungus or other problems... and didn't see any issues. The outside is nicked and quite a bit or brassing... It does have the case, hood and both caps. I'll be going back to take some shots of the lens and another eval.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this lens?
What would you shoot with this? (it's MF... :wxwax)
Anything else I should look for on this lens?
Any thoughts what it might be worth?

TIA...

[ian408]

Moved this into the Serious amateur and pro camera thread.

To answer part of your question, would you be satisfied with MF? Nothing wrong
with MF but shooting sports will likely mean a lot of missed shots until you
get comfortable with the focus.

The wear you see could be from being carried around in a bag with other
items rubbing against it. Showing wear like that would make me wonder
what kind of overall treatment the lens received.

Ian

[luckyrwe]

For an off-brand 300/2.8, the Tamron is the best in my opinion.

[pathfinder]

Found an older MF prime 300mm f2.8 Tamron lens with a Nikon Adaptall mount sitting at a pawn shop. I took a few shots with it and looks to have clean glass. I did look closely at the glass for any hazing, fungus or other problems... and didn't see any issues. The outside is nicked and quite a bit or brassing... It does have the case, hood and both caps. I'll be going back to take some shots of the lens and another eval.

I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with this lens?
What would you shoot with this? (it's MF... :wxwax)
Anything else I should look for on this lens?
Any thoughts what it might be worth?

TIA...
Not only is this lens Manual Focus - With an Adaptal mount, it is probably also manual aperature - If it is, this means you will have to manually stop down to the taking aperature after focusing with the lens aperature wide open. This many be ok for landscapes or astrophotography - but will not be satisfactory for sports or other high speed shooting. I would not pay much for this lens at all, unless you have a specific need that it will fit. JMO - YMMVhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/xzicon_smile_cool.gifhttp://dgrin.com/images/smilies/xzicon_smile_cool.gif

[luckyrwe]

Pathfinder, you are thinking of a "preset" lens. The adaptall mount is custom for your camera. Some cameras have no aperture lever (EOS) and thus may be in the preset category. Others (Nikon) still have the level. The good thing about a 2.8 lens is shooting it wide open anyway.

[pathfinder]

Pathfinder, you are thinking of a "preset" lens. The adaptall mount is custom for your camera. Some cameras have no aperture lever (EOS) and thus may be in the preset category. Others (Nikon) still have the level. The good thing about a 2.8 lens is shooting it wide open anyway.
So - the Nikon adaptal mount will trigger the lens to stop down automatically?? That would make the lens far more appealing.

The problem with manual focusing for most digital SLRs, is that their viewfinders tend to be dark compared to older manual focusing SLRs, and they usually have no split image range-finders to help with manual focusing.

[Seymore]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, and no worries about the move Ian. Thanks for the correction...

I'm thinking that since it's MF, I'll have to re-evaluate when I'd use it. I'm thinking of asking if they'll rent it to me for a day so I can see it's performance. I have an AMA shoot, and I'm thinking of one specific corner to use this glass with. Any race shooters think this lens will work?

BTW, I've dealt with MF glass, and actually like it... a Nikkor 135/2.8 which I luv... a Nikkor 50/1.4 which is also sweeeeet... and a cheap Tokina 100-300 which is a pain... So I'm thinking that other than the weight on my pod, I think I can deal with the MF in relative short order.

Any other questions/statements are very welcome...

[luckyrwe]

How much were they asking for the lens?

[Seymore]

How much were they asking for the lens?
They're still on the fence about a final price. But hem-hawin' somewhere around 300-350.

[luckyrwe]

$300-$350???

SNAG IT!!!

If you do not want it, and it is clean, I will take it!!!

I AM SERIOUS. I will paypal you the bucks tonight.

[ian408]

They're still on the fence about a final price. But hem-hawin' somewhere around 300-350.
It's a pawn shop. The lens is beat up. Offer them $275 and see what
happens.

Good luck.

[luckyrwe]

If they want $300, they gave no more than $150 for it. I have seen plenty of pawn shop deals, they do not always know cameras. Once I missed out on a $45 rangefinder when the SLR was the all the rage...it was a Leica M2R.

If you offer them $250, HAVE IT IN YOUR HAND, EXTENDED. That way they can take it or leave it. Numbers off the tongue don't talk as loud as green in the hand.

Does it look like this?

http://www.benhorne.com/photos/ebay/300B/5.jpg

[Seymore]

If they want $300, they gave no more than $150 for it. I have seen plenty of pawn shop deals, they do not always know cameras. Once I missed out on a $45 rangefinder when the SLR was the all the rage...it was a Leica M2R.

If you offer them $250, HAVE IT IN YOUR HAND, EXTENDED. That way they can take it or leave it. Numbers off the tongue don't talk as loud as green in the hand. Thanks for the input. I'll need to "clear" the funds first, but if I can get it, I'll let you know.

Does it look like this?

http://www.benhorne.com/photos/ebay/300B/5.jpg Yep... But, I think it's an older unit. It's more of an off-white/light tan than the brown we see there, and the brassing is much worse than in this PIC. I'll try to get PICs of the lens today.

[luckyrwe]

I'll check back now and then to see if you got any more info on the lens. Can you see if it is an AI version? Look for the little extra tab on the back rim side of the aperture ring. I'm not familiar with lenses older than this one.

[wholenewlight]

So - the Nikon adaptal mount will trigger the lens to stop down automatically?? That would make the lens far more appealing.

The problem with manual focusing for most digital SLRs, is that their viewfinders tend to be dark compared to older manual focusing SLRs, and they usually have no split image range-finders to help with manual focusing. Someone else may correct me but I'm not sure the adaptall mount will correctly set the aperatures on a modern DSLR. I'm not sure the electronic connections are there. I used to sell these lenses and the connections were mechanical if I'm correct. I know my Nikon D70 is specific about only the more modern lenses working in automatic exposure mode.

???
:dunno

Here's a link to a forum that seems to follow this same line of thought - click here (http://www.birdforum.net/archive/index.php/t-30940)

[luckyrwe]

If you remove the lens from your camera, look into the mirror box on the lens and fire a frame off, you will see the mirror flip up and down...and maybe something else. If a lever moves, and it has a piece sticking into a spot on the back of the lens, it is most likely an aperture control.

[Seymore]

I'll check back now and then to see if you got any more info on the lens. Can you see if it is an AI version? Look for the little extra tab on the back rim side of the aperture ring. I'm not familiar with lenses older than this one.Ok...

Well, what I can tell you from my experience with it yesterday is that it's like any older Nikkor MF lens. I believe it is AI... but, the D70 will NOT meter with this lens... everything is manual... and there is NO auto anything. You have to work off the histogram or have a light meter available.

[luckyrwe]

Can you set it to f/2.8 (wide open) and use aperture priority then? I'm actually thinking of using it on my F5. :D

[Seymore]

It is AI, and as the Brits would say... "it's spot on!". Quite crisp. I'll have more posts to describe the problem I think I've found... For now, here's the lens:

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/1.jpg

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/2.jpg

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/14.jpg

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/4.jpg
Click on PIC for Album (http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/album.php?album_id=2014&showowner=1&recit=1&start=10)

[Seymore]

Took the lens out on loan for a few hours today. Here are some that I shot straight out of the shop... (There is nothing done to these PIC. These are straight from the cam. Resized by my host, MacMurph.com.)

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/5.jpg

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/6.jpg

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/8.jpg

And, here's a crop of the above PIC...
http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/9.jpg
Click on PIC for Album (http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/album.php?album_id=2014&showowner=1&recit=1)

I was quite happy with the lens early on.

[Seymore]

I took the lens to 2 different camera stores, where I have connections. One had a "blue book" dated 2k and found that the lens, in E condition, is worth $800-900. Keep in mind that the book is 5 years old.

At the other store, a person I know showed me that there is quite a bit of particulate matter between the elements. Mostly dust, but it's quite weird that nothing showed up till later in the day shooting the sky...

Todays shooting was split between 2 sets. One at about 12:30p (at the shop), and the other at about 3:15p. The PICs in this post were taken in the 3:15p set. My previous post PICs were taken at about 12:30p.

Now, I didn't see how bad the prob was till I got the PICs home. BTW, the CCD is clean with any other lens, and it appears that it's just at certain focal lengths... Is this possible?

(There is nothing done to these PIC. These are straight from the cam. Resized by my host, MacMurph.com.)

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/13.jpg

And a crop of the above PIC...
http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/0.jpg

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/11.jpg

And a crop of the above PIC...
http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/12.jpg

And then, in the same set... These are clean! Could it be that the problem is only on one or two elements in the lens? I can't find any problem in any of the earlier PICs...

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/16.jpg

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/15.jpg

[Seymore]

Can you set it to f/2.8 (wide open) and use aperture priority then? I'm actually thinking of using it on my F5. :D
I don't think so... at least not with the D70. As I said earlier, everything is manual on the D70. EVERYTHING! I can't shoot at any setting but manual mode.

[luckyrwe]

So did you buy it? I have never seen a white Tamron lens!

[Seymore]

So did you buy it? I have never seen a white Tamron lens!
No... Not yet... What do you think of the issue I had with some of the shots?

[luckyrwe]

The dust appears to be in the camera...Can you set the lens on a tripod and point it skyward and take a picture, then put on another lens and shoot the sky again? Assuming a clear sky, the pictures should appear exactly the same.

Shooting film may be another method to inspect closer. Did you get to haggle on the price at all? Did they give you a solid number?

[Seymore]

The dust appears to be in the camera...Can you set the lens on a tripod and point it skyward and take a picture, then put on another lens and shoot the sky again? Assuming a clear sky, the pictures should appear exactly the same.Well, I forgot to mention that all the shots today were taken on a monopod. When I got home I did mount my 70-210 and saw NO issues. I'm wondering if at a certain focal length, the debris in the lens can come into focus? It just makes no sense to me that some PICs had the issues, where other didn't.


Shooting film may be another method to inspect closer. Did you get to haggle on the price at all? Did they give you a solid number? I tried to nail them down on the price... and he said he'd like to see $500. I can tell you that I can't produce that kind of funds at this point... unless someone wants my 24-50 (http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=11125). But I'm going to offer the $300 that I heard his boss mention, and throw the 24-50 if the deal needs to be sweetened. I'll also use the PICs (they have WEB access) of the prob as an arguement towards the price...

Any other ideas you have to argue the reduced price?

[luckyrwe]

I love to use humor. If he says "I'd like to see $500." I'd reply with "I'd lke to see Britney Spears in my bed but that ain't happenin'."

It is hard to tell about the dust at a certain focal length. Having another camera would sure let you know about that.

[Seymore]

I love to use humor. If he says "I'd like to see $500." I'd reply with "I'd lke to see Britney Spears in my bed but that ain't happenin'." :rofl :thumb OK... I'll remember this!

It is hard to tell about the dust at a certain focal length. Having another camera would sure let you know about that. Well, I'll be heading down there tomarrow. But, $300 is going to be my limit. Being a MF lens with the issues it has, I can't see spending any more than this. I'll also have to take it to my lens repair dude and get an overhaul.

[luckyrwe]

You can say "$300 is my max" then toss down six $50 bills. If they say, "Well, we don't think that's a good price" then you can say, "You know, I don't like $300 either."

Then pick up one of the 50's. See if they quit while they are ahead. :>

[Seymore]

:thumb 50's eh? Not 20's? Not enough pressure with 20's? :dunno I like the way you think. So, you want to take a road trip to CO? I'll let you buy my new lens with my money... :D

OH, one last thing to mention... it was noticed that two of the screw heads were stripped. There are 4 around the lens at this point. So it appears that someone tried to get into the lens at one point. The screw is visable in this PIC... So, is this a deal breaker?

http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/pictures/8/2014/800x480/3.jpg

[ian408]

:thumb 50's eh? Not 20's? Not enough pressure with 20's? :dunno I like the way you think. So, you want to take a road trip to CO? I'll let you buy my new lens with my money... :D

OH, one last thing to mention... it was noticed that two of the screw heads were stripped. There are 4 around the lens at this point. So it appears that someone tried to get into the lens at one point. The screw is visable in this PIC... So, is this a deal breaker?


I don't know that it's a deal breaker but I'd lop $100 off that price and
tell 'em that the lens looks like it's been opened up by an amateur. No
telling if it will fail or not. That could well be how the hair and other crap
got in there (take a copy of the photo).

ian

[Seymore]

I don't know that it's a deal breaker but I'd lop $100 off that price and
tell 'em that the lens looks like it's been opened up by an amateur. No
telling if it will fail or not. That could well be how the hair and other crap
got in there (take a copy of the photo).
Yep Ian... I agree that this is most likely how the crap got inside. Well, I'll keep y'all apprised to the results. I'm tempted to wait till monday. Make them wait/wonder... I don't need to let all of the cat outta the bag quite yet.

BTW, they have WEB access, and I'll show the PICs with the probs.

[luckyrwe]

Well you can have $20s and pull them up too. :thumb

As for striped screws, it shows someone who is not a professional got into it. But I got into my lenses at one time, the MF ones are not that complicated. You can call Tamron in the morning, give them the model and serial of the lens and ask how much for a once over. If they say $200 then use that in your argument with the pawn shop. You do not want to go back too many times because then they know that you are going to bite at any price.

Do you have friends who usually dress nice? Give one of them $5 to go into the pawn shop and inquire about the lens price. WHATEVER price they say, your friend should giggle and make a comment about Neiman Marcus getting in the pawn shop business, then leave without another word. Then you should go back within the hour and snag it!

Of course if I was in CO I would be there so fast, it sounds like fun!

We can go halves on the lens, I get it in the summer and you get it in the winter. :clap

[Seymore]

Well you can have $20s and pull them up too. :thumb

As for striped screws, it shows someone who is not a professional got into it. But I got into my lenses at one time, the MF ones are not that complicated. You can call Tamron in the morning, give them the model and serial of the lens and ask how much for a once over. If they say $200 then use that in your argument with the pawn shop. You do not want to go back too many times because then they know that you are going to bite at any price.Well, I finally got a number from them. $350... But with all the problems, I'm gonna stick to my guns. I did call Tamron and spoke with a knowledgeable individual who quoted me $237 for a basic cleaning. If it needed more extensive cleaning, this was in the $400 range.

Do you have friends who usually dress nice? Give one of them $5 to go into the pawn shop and inquire about the lens price. WHATEVER price they say, your friend should giggle and make a comment about Neiman Marcus getting in the pawn shop business, then leave without another word. Then you should go back within the hour and snag it!I don't think that would work. This is something they have "behind the counter"... and have plans to post on Ebay. So, it's not out in the public viewing area.

Of course if I was in CO I would be there so fast, it sounds like fun!

We can go halves on the lens, I get it in the summer and you get it in the winter. :clap So, what's taking you so long? :scratch We'll even go out for a day-long shoot. Some of the places I can show you! :thumb But, since I'm the one that found the glass, I'd have charge you a yearly finders fee, when you had the lens... sorta like child support! :wink :wink And, the summers would have to be mine. Ya know... the child support thing again! :D So, when are you gonna arrive? I can pick you up at the airport! :clap

[Seymore]

I got it for $275, plus I sweetened it with a lens that I've had for 9 months and only used a handful of times. A Tokina 100-300/f4 MF (http://www.macmurph.com/photodb/picture.php?picture_id=22326) piece of cr@p. They looked it up and saw one sell for over $150 on Ebay, which is what they based the fact that they can sell it on. I never really liked the lens and rarely used it. But they gave me $50 for it towards the LD! That'll work for me! :clap I was never able to sell it, and may have had a hard time giving it away.

Well, the Tamron is now at my repair shop for a $70 cleaning. I've had this person (Gene) fix sticky blades on 2 of my other lenses, and he assures me that it'll be ready for the AMA races before next weekend. WooHoo!!! I can't wait to get it mounted again!!!

Toys... gotta luv um!!!

[luckyrwe]

Awwright Seymore!!! Money talks! Keep your eye out for other glass like that for the rest of us! :D

The best deal I ever nabbed in a pawn shop was a 110 camera for $20. The guy figured that was good for a 110 back around 1990. It was a Pentax 110 SLR with 3 lenses, fash, and winder! The winder was dead because of battery corrosion, but I disassembled it and replaced the dead parts myself, then had a great little 110 system for a bit.

I only wish dgrin was around back then so I could have shared the camera with others when I was done with it.

[Seymore]

I'll keep my eyes open... but only if you'll do the same for all of the rest of us!!! :huh :D

Hmmm... Not bad for a 110. Isn't it nice having some mechanical ability? :clap And technology moves on! :wink

I think my other finds @ pawns have been ok... Like the AF 28-85 I currently have for $60. The MF 50/1.4 that I got for $25 and the MF 135/2.8 that has $40 of my money. :D ...Can't forget the SB800 I traded for a used PC I had laying around! :thumb It's all a matter of "right place... right time!!!". Oh, and having pawn shops at your disposal. There are about 15 where I'm currently living.

[luckyrwe]

Most the deals I hear about are not grabbed by folks I necessarily like. My worst enemies brag about deals they got. I am glad that is turning around! Pawn shops around here think that any SLR is worth $500, even a Pentax K1000 with no advance lever.

[Seymore]

Most the deals I hear about are not grabbed by folks I necessarily like. My worst enemies brag about deals they got. I am glad that is turning around! Pawn shops around here think that any SLR is worth $500, even a Pentax K1000 with no advance lever.
Dude... I though we were "closer" than that. :lust I had no idea we were "enemies". :scratch :D

Yea... The cost of living in the LA area makes for some really inacurate pricing. I used to live in Simi Valley, and the prices there (90-92 era) were almost in-line with new prices for the time. They can sit on their stuff for a few years till it's worth NOTHING!!!

Sometimes I luv dealing with people who have no idea what they have. Or at least very little...

[luckyrwe]

Oh I was referring to out here in CA only. Dgrinners excepted of course! :thumb

[Seymore]

Oh I was referring to out here in CA only. Dgrinners excepted of course! :thumb
I know... I know... Just giving you grief!!! :cool
Here... Have one on me! :slurp